You see a lot in my line. You learn a lot about people. I most often run into people I really feel sorry for, but for two different reasons. The first group I feel sorry for because what is going on, whatever it may be, isn't their fault. It's a case of diminished mental ability. I mentioned the lady who I had to change a lock for recently. When I got the job I was told it was a lockout, meaning possibly drill and replace. But the lady was already inside. I ended up just re-keying a deadbolt on the front door. But from the moment I arrived I could tell this lady didn't have it all together. I mean, she gives me the key that opens two other doors and has me re-key this lock to that key. No big deal, I do it all the time. But as I was finishing up and putting the lock back on the door, she wanted to know if she was now going to have to get the other two locks re-keyed to match this one. I had to explain THREE times, using the BIG PICTURE, small word method to finally get her to understand. Then earlier today I got a call from her asking why she had a statement from the company in her e-mail and did she owe us any money? If so, what did we do to earn the money? I gently explained to her that what she had found was the e-mail receipt and she owed us nothing. This was just a receipt for services already rendered. And I only had to do it twice. This lady is functioning well enough to get along but isn't firing on all cylinders.
The other group, well Robert Heinlein said it well when he stated,
"NEVER underestimate the power of human stupidity."
Countless times I've had people either wailing and moaning about being locked out, or complaining about the cost of getting them in. This complaint level goes through the roof when something happens that makes them look like complete idiots, or the lock is one that is just begging me to breathe on it so it can turn and open. The idiot ones usually include statements like,
"I thought I checked all the windows." This happens after they have just sworn to me that the windows are locked and then, since it is my job, I check the windows, I take out a screen and open one.
Another favorite of mine has happened twice. Two different statements, but the same thought.
"I suppose I still have to pay you." This was after a lady who always waved her fob at the door of the truck to unlock it, had the battery die had found out that most fobs have a key inside that will not only open the door, but it will also start the car.
Another favorite,
"You mean I gotta pay you for that?"
This one was late Friday night or early Sat. morning, depending on how you count time at those hours, in the local student ghetto. An unpickable smart key on the ONLY door into the place. I look over and both windows on the front of the apartment are unlocked. I took out the screen, opened the window and asked,
"Do you want to crawl though or should I?"
I don't know what it is, but I've been running into these people who just don't have two brain cells left to rub together a lot lately. In the past couple of weeks I've actually had to show three people that there really is a key inside the fob. I feel so sorry for people like these. When things go bad, like hurricanes for example, they are the ones who suffer the most damage.